Managing Checkpoint Queues in a Multiple Node System

1. A method for coordinating writing of data items to persistent storage, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining within a first node a first queue for dirty data items that need to be written to persistent storage; maintaining within the first node a second queue for dirty data items that need to be written to persistent storage; moving entries from said first queue to said second queue when the dirty data items corresponding to the entries need to be transferred for use by a second node; when selecting which data items to write to persistent storage, assigning priority to data items that correspond to entries in said second queue over data items that correspond to entries in said first queue; and after selecting which data items to write to persistent storage, writing the selected items to persistent storage.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of moving entries includes moving an entry from said first queue to said second queue in response to a message received by said first node, wherein said message indicates that another node has requested the data item that corresponds to said entry.

3. A method for coordinating writing of data items to persistent storage, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining a forced-write count for each of said data items; incrementing the forced-write count of a data item whenever the data item is written to persistent storage by one node for transfer of the data item to another node; selecting which dirty data items to write to persistent storage based on the write counts associated with the data items; after selecting which dirty data items to write to persistent storage, writing the selected items to persistent storage; storing dirty data items that have forced-write counts at or above a certain threshold in a particular queue; and when selecting dirty data items to write to persistent storage, giving priority to data items stored in said particular queue.

4. A computer-readable storage medium carrying instructions for coordinating writing of data items to persistent storage, the instructions when executed cause the comprising computer to perform the steps of: maintaining within a first node a first queue for dirty data items that need to be written to persistent storage; maintaining within the first node a second queue for dirty data items that need to be written to persistent storage; moving entries from said first queue to said second queue when the dirty data items corresponding to the entries need to be transferred for use by a second node; when selecting which data items to write to persistent storage, assigning priority to data items that correspond to entries in said second queue over data items that correspond to entries in said first queue; and after selecting which data items to write to persistent storage, writing the selected items to persistent storage.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 wherein the step of moving entries includes moving an entry from said first queue to said second queue in response to a message received by said first node, wherein said message indicates that another node has requested the data item that corresponds to said entry.

6. A computer-readable storage medium carrying instructions for coordinating writing of data items to persistent storage, the instructions when executed cause the computer to perform the steps of: maintaining a forced-write count for each of said data items; incrementing the forced-write count of a data item whenever the data item is written to persistent storage by one node for transfer of the data item to another node; selecting which dirty data items to write to persistent storage based on the write counts associated with the data items; after selecting which dirty data items to write to persistent storage, writing the selected items to persistent storage; storing dirty data items that have forced-write counts at or above a certain threshold in a particular queue; and when selecting dirty data items to write to persistent storage, giving priority to data items stored in said particular queue.